Easton Backcountry

Komperdell Mountaineer

Atlas Race snowshoe

Snowshoeing is an excellent exercise that combines a cardiovascular workout with enjoying nature.

Snowshoeing is an excellent exercise that combines a cardiovascular workout with enjoying nature.

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“If you can walk, you can go snowshoeing.”

Say what?

No, really, I learned snowshoeing is that easy. Well, at least talking about it is. We’ll see what happens when some snow falls and I strap two giant tennis rackets to my feet and try out a sport I haven’t done since I was 12.

Julie Hudetz told a class of about 30 people two weeks ago that anyone can go snowshoeing, even ex-skiers, people with sore knees or those who just love to hike. You can even bring your children, too. That is, if you want.

Hudetz, a performance coach and independent contractor for Tubbs and Atlas snowshoes, presented at the Snowshoes.com Get Going! Workshop at REI, 4025 S. College Ave., in Fort Collins and offered many great tips and tidbits to get the most out of your first snowshoeing experience.

“It’s fun, it’s low impact and it’s highly aerobic,” she said. “It’s a great way to exercise outdoors, burn some calories, go with your friends and explore.”

While we’re waiting for the snow to pile up, check out our snowshoeing guide with tips from Hudetz to get yourself ready for Winter Trails Day on Jan. 12.

Which snowshoes to buy?

Hudetz said to consider FACT: flotation, articulation, comfort and traction to help you choose the snowshoe that best fits your needs. She recommends to try on the snowshoes at your favorite outdoor sporting goods store and to walk around the store and really get a good feel to make sure the shoe fits your gait.

Flotation: This is the ability of a snowshoe to function on the surface and takes into consideration user weight and snow conditions. A heavier person typically needs a snowshoe with more surface area (or flotation). More flotation is usually desirable for use in powder snow conditions.

Articulation: A well-designed snowshoe rotates three ways (step rotation, lateral flex, heel alignment) on a pivot point located under the ball of the foot to optimize stability, control and comfort as terrain varies.

Step rotation, or fixed rotation on many modern snowshoes, enables an efficient stride on packed snow and flat to rolling terrain. For most snow conditions, binding suspension should allow enough lateral flex (away from the snowshoe frame) so that a comfortable, natural foot position can be maintained when traversing across the side of a hill.

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Comfort: Snowshoe weight, shape and pivot point all combine with binding fit to form comfort on the user’s foot.

Many shoes use durable, lightweight materials to minimize user fatigue without sacrificing durability. Modern snowshoes are ergonomically shaped specifically for men and women to provide the right balance of flotation and maneuverability.

The pivot point — or where the binding connects to the snowshoe — should be located under the ball of the foot to center the body over the natural balance point of the snowshoe.

The binding is the “heart” of the snowshoe and should be comfortable, easy to use, and provide proper support and directional control. Snowboard-style ratchet bindings are commonly found on the most expensive snowshoes. More economical models and homemade shoes will often have strap and/or lacing style bindings.

Traction: Modern decked snowshoes need crampons for traction. Traction is measured by the depth of crampon penetration in uphill, sidehill and downhill slopes as well as in variable snow conditions. Snowshoes with heel crampons commonly incorporate grip bars under the heel of the boot as well to help limit boot heel slippage.

Here are some snowshoe options, as tested and reviewed by OutsideOnline:

Atlas Race: At just a hair more than 2 pounds per pair, the Race is one of the lightest snowshoes on the planet. The light but surprisingly durable titanium crampons kept testers sure-footed on icy hills, and the V-shaped, 22-inch-long frame (the Race comes in only one unisex size) provided ample float in up to 8 inches of fresh snow. And it did all that while weighing roughly half as much as the average snowshoe. Price: $320. Info: www.atlas.com — OutsideOnline

Easton Backcountry: If your hike turns into an icy scramble, that’s OK. These beefy shoes are made from aircraft-grade aluminum, and flexible plastic joints at the toe and heel allow the entire deck to flex slightly, increasing shoe-to-snow contact on uneven terrain. Plus, the two main crampons rotate independently for more precise and secure footing when sidehilling. The Backcountry is a versatile, user-friendly snowshoe. Price: $249. Info: www.eastonmountainproducts.com. — OutsideOnline

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MSR Lightning Ascent: The Easton has bigger claws, but the revamped Lightning Ascent has teeth all around the frame, and a new two-pronged toe crampon flexes to bite into uneven snow. Add in a sturdy heel lifter and a free-floating and supremely adjustable binding (four ultrasecure rubber straps are easy to manipulate in gloves), and you’ve got a shoe that’s up for just about any terrain. Price: $270. Info: www.cascadedesigns.com. — OutsideOnline

Komperdell Mountaineer: The Mountaineer isn’t as toothy as either the Easton or the MSR. But if you’re not looking to tackle the steepest and iciest trails you can find, that’s a good thing — big, aggressive teeth only get in the way of your natural walking gait on flatter ground. And the pintail-shaped Mountaineer has plenty of bite for moderate terrain. The fixed binding accommodates all boot sizes but is poorly designed — it works fine but is unnecessarily complicated. If you’re after bang for your buck, look no further. Price: $75. Info: www.komperdell.com. — OutsideOnline

What to wear?

“You don’t need to go out and buy a snowshoeing outfit,” Hudetz said.

Basically, she said, wear what you normally would when you go skiing, winter cycling or cold-weather running. Here are some suggestions:

• Wicking base layer (wool or synthetic)

• Insulating midlayer (fleece jacket or vest)

• Waterproof/breathable jacket

• Insulating jacket

• Waterproof/breathable pants or bibs

• Fleece pants (for cold days)

• Insulating hat, cap, balaclava or headband

• Neck or face gaiter

• Socks (synthetic or wool), plus spares

• Gaiters

• Gloves, mittens

• Light gloves (for vigorous activity or mild days)

• Sun-shielding cap or hat (for sunny days)

• Boots

Where to go?

“In general, even as pathetic a year that we had last year in snow, if there’s an inch of snow on the ground, you can still snowshoe,” Hudetz said. “The only thing is, if your favorite hiking trail is really rocky, you probably need a good foot (of snow) to really cover up those rocks.”

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Lory State Park has a plethora of trails, and if Fort Collins receives enough snow, people are known to snowshoe the city golf courses, too. Anywhere there’s snow, pack your snowshoes.

Poudre Canyon Trails

Blue Lake Trail

Distance: 6.9 miles

Directions: From Ted’s Place (intersection of U.S. Highway 287 and Colorado Highway 14), turn left on Colorado 14, and drive 54 miles west to the Blue Lake Trailhead parking lot on the right, located across the highway from Forest Road 156, Long Draw Road.

Tips from the Forest Service: This popular trail offers a long but pleasant ski or snowshoe trip to a high mountain lake. Follow the Blue Lake drainage to the lake from where it crosses the trail to avoid avalanche hazards along the summer route. Beware of avalanche danger above Blue Lake.

Montgomery Pass

Distance: 1.9 miles

Directions: From Ted’s Place, 58 miles west on Colorado Highway 14 to the Zimmerman Lake Trailhead parking lot, on the left side of the highway. The Montgomery Pass Trailhead is across the highway to the north.

Tips from the Forest Service: The trail rises steeply through the trees for 2 miles, then breaks out of the trees just below Montgomery Pass itself. There is considerable avalanche danger on the steeper slopes in this area above tree line.

Zimmerman Lake

Distance: 1.0 miles

Directions: From Ted’s Place, 58 miles west on Colorado Highway 14 to the Zimmerman Lake trailhead parking lot on the left, which is shared with visitors to the Montgomery Pass trail beginning across the road to the north.

Tips from the Forest Service: Follow a wide but occasionally steep road 1 mile to Zimmerman Lake itself. From here the views of the Montgomery Pass area are excellent. A nice 1.5 mile loop trail winds around the lake and is well marked, however do not confuse the loop trail with the Meadows Trail or you will be skiing or snowshoeing a long way back to your car.